Pat Conroy heads to Solomon Islands for World War II commemorations

Pacific Minister Pat Conroy will travel to the Solomon Islands on Saturday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal and the sinking of the HMAS Canberra.

Pacific Minister Pat Conroy. Picture: Getty Images

Pacific Minister Pat Conroy will travel to the Solomon Islands on Saturday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal and the sinking of the HMAS Canberra.

Mr Conroy, who met Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare at last month’s Pacific Islands Forum in Fiji, will be joined by Chief of Navy, Vice-Admiral Mark Hammond, along with representatives from the governments of the US, Japan and New Zealand.

“Australia is Solomon Islands’ largest development partner, supporting all areas of society and the economy. We value our position as Solomon Islands first security and development partner of choice,” Mr Conroy said.

He also said that he would hold meetings with ministerial counterparts and listen to their “views on our shared challenges and opportunities” including in the areas of health, education and security.

Mr Sogavare surprised Australia after it was revealed earlier this year that he had negotiated a security agreement with Beijing amid growing concerns over China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific.

Speaking in the national parliament of the Solomon Islands in April, Mr Sogavare blamed “inadequate” support from Australia for his decision to sign the ­security deal with Beijing, arguing this was the key lesson of the ­Honiara riots in November.

At the Pacific Islands Forum in Suva in July, Anthony Albanese said he was told by Mr Sogavare that there would never be a Chinese base in the Solomon Islands. He also argued that his higher 2030 emissions reduction target of 43 per cent had helped to reset relations with Pacific nations.

Mr Conroy said he would be meeting with “labour mobility stakeholders and business leaders” during his visit and looked forward to meeting with athletes and officials working on the 2023 Pacific Games.

“I will visit the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Hells Point explosive ordnance disposal facility that we are upgrading with Solomon Islands,” Mr Conroy said.

“This underlines the ongoing Australian support to Solomon Islands to address the devastating legacy of unexploded WWII ordnance.”